Nano-structured nuclear radiation shielding

ABSTRACT

The nuclear shielding is bulky and difficult to handle due to the reduced stopping power between the neutral radiations (X, gamma, n) and materials. It is proven that these radiations reflect at grazing angles on special substrates called super-mirrors that contain nano-layers of various materials. The usage of nano-structures in ordered manner or nano-tubes may create the super-mirror like wave-guide for this neutral radiation driving it and turning at angles greater than 90 degrees in few microns only. The usage of ferro or piezo electric nano-structures generates a shield that has the wave-guides path dependent on a control voltage. The resultant device is a shield for nuclear reactor criticality control, minimizing the nuclear reactor shielding and making an electric control of the power level by adjusting the shielding transmission. Other devices as X, n imaging device, or radiation funneling to increase the efficiency of using thin absorbents are some of the potential applications.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/9934,412 filled on Jun. 13, 2007, which is hereby incorporated byreference in this entity.

BACKGROUND

The channeling experiments proven that the radiation may be trappedinside atomic lattices and driven in a similar manner with that themicrowave and optical radiation is driven through the wave-guides andrespectively optic fiber. Charged particles and X-ray channeling hasalready reached the applications in accelerator and space technology.

The new development based on nano-structures pushes the limits ofchanneling towards the high-energy radiation domain driving toapplications of an exceptional importance.

The present solution of using complex nano-structures that can beelectrically controlled open the way to a new revolution in nuclearenergy.

SUMMARY

A novel material that comprises a plurality of nano-structures that isable to trap and guide nuclear radiation in a controlled manner. Thematerial is made of a plurality of controlled grown nano-structures,able to gyrate the radiation at desired angle. The material may be buildin hetero-structures inserting electric sensitive materials than makeits channeling properties vary.

A device made using such material that controls the radiation directionpossible of being used as control device in nuclear reactor replacingthe control rods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1—The principia of radiation shielding

FIG. 2—The radiation degradation and absorption

FIG. 3—The principia of multilayer decreasing energy resonant absorptionattenuation

FIG. 4—The radiation gyration schematics by bended micro wave-guides andnano-fibers

FIG. 5—The bended molecular wave-guide made in multi-layered clusteredmaterial

FIG. 6—The radiation funneling mechanism by channeling

FIG. 7—X gamma and neutrons radiation switch

FIG. 8—The “miu” radiation switch with digital control

FIG. 9—A monolayer “miu” switch schematics

FIG. 10—The nuclear reactor control by variable transmission “miu”switch shielding

FIG. 11—The use of a radiation funneling shielding to shield a plasmafocused fission device

FIG. 12—A space-shuttle radiation-shielding device for charged particlesand X, gamma rays

FIG. 13—Multi-focusing multi-layer

FIG. 14—Space imaging device

FIG. 15—Adapted nano-tube wave-guide example

FIG. 16—The complete shielding structure

FIG. 17—The atomic level low energy gamma ray channeling

FIG. 18—The radiation selective extractor/gyrator

FIG. 19—The radiation raincoat-like individual protective equipment

FIG. 20—Mobile miniaturized nuclear reactor

FIG. 21—Mobile nuclear powered SUV

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1—Shows the method of radiation shielding based on classical andnon-classical approaches. The sources 107 are supposed to emit radiationin space with a spherical symmetry, having the intensity at a distance rfrom the source given by formula presented in the figure where A is thesource's activity for the radiation k. This is the radiation intensitythat hits a shielding element on the external surface. The ray 104represents the radiation Pointing vector hitting the shield and havingthe intensity on its surface I₀ ^(k). The shield 103 has a thicknessmade from elemental layers “i′” 109 a volume content 101 and anassociated coordinates system 102.

At the contact with the surface 103 the radiation 104 is reflected 105and refracted 106. The ration Ir 105 per Io 104 gives the “albedo”figure also called the reflection coefficient, while the It 106 versusI0 104 ratio gives the transmitted radiation. In current nuclearradiation calculations It is assumed equal with I0 because thereflection factor is smaller than 2% and is depending on incidence angleand energy. The classical absorption theory based on random interactionis following the exponential law having the absorption coefficientdepending on material, density and radiation energy. The absorptionlength is defined as being the length where It becomes 1/e from Io orthe sum at the exponent of the absorption factors equals 1.

There is important to understand that the absorbed radiation does notdisappear, it is considered absorbed because it disappears from itsoriginal group “k” but the absorption location becomes a sourcereemitting the absorbed energies in other forms depending on themechanism of interaction. The quantum scattering is covering the

Thompson and Compton scattering as well the nuclear absorption andreemission also called non-elastic scattering, or resonant absorption.

The quantum absorption, often called resonant absorption is based on thenuclear quantum resonance mechanism that is exciting the inner energylevels and excites the absorption element that further decays emittingthe energy in various, specific forms, becoming a secondary radiationsource.

The curve 110 shows the desired attenuation characteristic mainly basedon high albedo, impossible to rich in the classical cases for X, gammarays and neutrons due to their particularities of the interaction withmatter. The multilayer shielding 103 made from individual materiallayers “i” 109 is showing the actual approach in radiation shielding,that is presenting as disadvantage low absorption factor requiringimportant thickness and weight.

FIG. 2—Shows the radiation degradation and absorption mechanism used inthe actual best radiation shielding. The shielding 200 has a structurearbitrarily taken for exemplification purposes. It is made from an innerlayer of iron “Fe” 201, shielded by a layer of silver “Ag” 202 that isshielded at exterior by a layer of thorium 203. As the chart 206 showsthorium having the biggest electronic density and mass density exhibitsthe biggest absorption coefficient for the radiation 204 generated by aradioactive source 205.

If the radiation energy is greater than 1.022 MeV the interactionprocess is dominated by the pair generation as shown in the plot 206that has a relative vertical scale. The pair electron-positron sharesthe difference of energy as kinetic energy. Both are stopping in theshielding matter by generating showers of knock-on electrons thatgenerates a lot of X rays behind them. When the positron energy becomessmall enough it annihilates with a lattice electron reemitting the massenergy of 1022 KeV plus a share of the electron chemical bounding energyby two photons of a little bit more than 511 KeV.

These photons shut at near 180 deg. Represents a new gamma rays sourcelocalized somewhere in the Thorium 203 bulk. Another effect according tothe plot 206 is the Compton effect. This effect is based on thecollision between a photon with an electron, that generates a recoiledelectron and a lower energy photon. The recoiled electron is stopped inthe lattice generating showers of knock-on electrons with associated Xrays, while the lower energy photon in similar with a new source ofradiation appeared somewhere inside the shielding, with some angulardistribution, given by the Compton effect particularities.

Up to now from a mono-energetic radiation source we obtained anassociated large energy spectrum of lower energy radiation, but mainlyconserving the initial energy. At lower energy the materials start toexhibit different absorption curves while at higher energies the densitywas what made the differences in absorption coefficient.

The reasons for this energy degrading material combination is thatThorium 203 with high density high stopping power to stop down most ofthe initial beam 204 energy producing its own high energy X rays,Compton and annihilation rays. These Thorium secondary generatedenergies are stopped down in silver 202 with at its turn emits moremoderated energies that are dumped in Iron 201. The iron still emits 5.6KeV as K-alpha specific X ray higher energy and a bunch of specific L, Mlines. Aluminum—plastic linear may take out these lines leaving linesonly lower than 1 KeV and a bunch of the entire attenuated spectrum.This kind of shielding drives to centimeters of material thickness andspecific weight in tones.

FIG. 3—Shows the procedure of enhancing the attenuation coefficient byusing a multi-layer decreasing energy resonant absorption attenuationgeometry as an embodiment of the present invention. As we observed fromthe FIG. 2 the attenuation coefficient of materials over 500 keV ispractically the same and only the density makes a difference. Densitymeans weight and this turns into excessive weight that impairing theapplications. For neutrons the problem is even more difficult, requiringseveral feet of absorbent materials around.

Keeping in mind the Moessbauer effect and the most used elements thereis possible that under the thorium layer from FIG. 2 203 to introduce acascade of Mossbauer elements within mm thick plurality of layers. Theseelements will enhance the absorption cross-section by the addition ofthe nuclear resonance that has the final effect the increase inscattering because each absorption is followed by a reemission. In FIG.3 the entire shield 300 is made from nuclear resonant layers arranged inthe order of increasing the nuclear resonant energy towards theradioactive source 303 that produces the irradiation beam 302. The line304 shows the assignment of the nuclear resonance in the plot 305 to theshield layer 301.

The comb looking nuclear resonances are coming to enhance the absorptioncross-section of the multi-material shielding 300, finally reducing itsthickness and weight.

The theoretical predictions show a mass reduction of more than 50% fromthe shielding 200 to 300, but that is not enough for most of theapplications. In conclusion, by introducing centers of absorption andreemission of the radiation more than 50% of the incident radiation isbackscattered and more than 80% or the radiation power is taken by theshield.

FIG. 4—Shows a main embodiment of the invention represented by theradiation gyration schematics by bended micro wave-guides andnano-fibers. The main driving idea is the concept of radiationchanneling in crystals. This concept is proven and in current use forcharged particles and neutrons. More using elastic crystals there ispossible to easy bend the beams of particles and neutrons similar tolight in the optic-fibers,

The development of nano-technologies offered the possibilities to pushthe wave frequencies even higher.

The radiation shielding is efficient when it denies the radiation accesswithout being damaged in time by radiation-combined effects of powerdeposition. The shield 400 is made by a few hundreds nm thick channelinglayer 400 separated by the interface 406 from a highly absorbent layer402 stick by the interface 405 from the backing layer 403.

The incident radiation 407 is hitting the layer 401 in the inputresonators of the nano-channels 404 that drives the radiation coming atvarious angles and drives it our of the structure 408 bending it atvarious angles between 90-180 deg.

The structure is not interfering with the radiation coming from theopposite direction 409.

The intermediary layer 402 separated by the interfaces 405 and 406 isused to apply electric current in order to switch or enhance thereflection properties of the structure, making a control.

FIG. 5—Shows a main embodiment of the invention showing the way a bendedmolecular wave-guide is made by using multi-layered clustered material.The high reflection material is made of several layers of molecularclusters. The input layer 500 is creating a rarefied electronicstructure based on fulerenes or metallic spheres, able to create aresonance cavity to trap radiation inside, in the wave guide made by themolecular orbital 505 The incident wave 508 having the Poynting vector509 towards the material is reaching a input structure 505, 507 thatguides it inside on a resonant path 506. The changes of the moleculardistribution from the material 500 to 501 and 502 makes the molecularwave-guide turns, driving the wave back outside by slight interactionwith electronic charges 514, and being resonantly trapped into themiddle of the wave guide isopotential electronic orbital surfaces 504.

The material 501 is implanted over the interface 500-502 modifying thecluster end in order to produce the wave-guide bending driving the waveinside 515 towards outside 511 traveling in opposite direction 510. Thematerial 502 is deposited on a structural resistance material 503 thatmay be a polymer, fabric or metal-ceramic sheet.

The total depth of the channels remains small in the domain of 50 nm toseveral hundred nanometers making that the total impulse transfer due toradiation direction change to be taken by several thousands atomicstructures the total energy taken from the radiation being small.

The slight interaction with the electronic structures and hardinteraction with the nuclear structures keeps the wave on track changingthe direction in small steps. The generation along the channel oforbital magnetic moments is welcomed for neutrons gyration creating afocusing defocusing molecular structure similar to particleaccelerators. The resonance between neutron spin turning and themagnetic orbital moment alternating is generating the turning force. Forpractical reasons a 90 deg. Gyration seems enough for most of theshielding purposes.

For nuclear reaction control purposes up to 180 deg. Gyration angleseems appropriate to keep the radiation in a specific location.

FIG. 6—shows another practical approach of the radiation funnelingmechanism by channeling into molecular wave-guides and turning it alittle bit. The higher input acceptance angle versus unidirectionalescape angle from the channel will modify the initial radiationadmittance.

The radiation 605 having a variable energy enters in the reflectivesolid 600 at a certain angle acceptable distribution 607, accepted forchanneling in the first layer 601, that turns it and deliver on a bendedangle, suitable for the next layer 602. The incident radiation coming inthe 602 layer acceptable angle did not interact by channeling with theupper layer 601 and it is added at the 602-layer entry level with the601-output radiation.

The second layer 602 output is cumulating with the direct radiationcoming up to the angle limit 608 and added to the previous output. Bythis way the radiation incident on the material's surface between angles606 and 608 forming the angular acceptance 609 is delivered inside thenarrow exit angle 605. The material may be continued with several otherlayers in the direction 604 such as a 2*Pi incidence angle to bediverted in a single direction.

FIG. 7—is shoving another embodiment of the invention that allows the Xgamma and neutrons radiation switch from a direction to another by usinga combination of fero-electric and piezo-electric clustered materials.This is important because it introduces the capability of electroniccontrol over the direction the radiation is driven. The application ofthe voltage on the active layer modifies the structure and orientationof the molecular wave-guides due to electrical anisotropy of the piezoand ferro electric clusters. The simplest device is a lamellarbimaterial with the piezo-electric material being deposited as a layeron the channeling material shrinking or expanding according to thecontrol voltage.

The device in FIG. 7 performs inner intermolecular changes at thecluster level driven by the external voltage. The nano-material isformed from the substrate 700 and the active layers 701 and 702. Whenthe voltage is applied in one direction 705 in the adaptor module 703the incident radiation 704 is deflected in the direction 706, shown inFIG. 7A. When the applied voltage is modified as 707 the incidentradiation will be deflected in direction 708 as showed in FIG. 7B.

The advantage is that the radiation may be controllable driven making aradiation electric shutter.

FIG. 8—shows a main embodiment of the present invention called the “miu”radiation switch with digital control that is mainly a radiationgyrator, based on molecular wave-guides.

The material is in a planar micrometric construction having conductivelayers 816 usable to apply the voltage 814 to control the inner channelgate mechanism. The input layer 800 is creating a rarefied electronicstructure based on fulerenes or metallic spheres, able to create aresonance cavity to trap radiation inside, in the wave guide made by themolecular orbital 805 The incident wave 808 having the Poynting vector809 towards the material is reaching a input structure 805, 800 thatguides it inside on a resonant path 806. The changes of the moleculardistribution from the material 800 to 801 and 802 makes the molecularwave-guide turn driving the wave back outside by slight interaction withelectronic charges, and being resonantly trapped into the middle of thewave guide isopotential electronic orbital surfaces 804.

The material 801 is implanted over the interface 800-802 modifying thecluster end in order to produce the wave-guide bending driving the waveinside 815 towards outside 811 traveling in opposite direction 810. Thematerial 802 is deposited on a structural resistance material 803 thatmay be a polymer, fabric or metal-ceramic sheet.

The total depth of the channels remains small in the domain of 50 nm toseveral hundred nanometers making that the total impulse transfer due toradiation direction change to be taken by several thousands atomicstructures the total energy taken from the radiation being small.

The slight interaction with the electronic structures and hardinteraction with the nuclear structures keeps the wave on track changingthe direction in small steps. The generation along the channel oforbital magnetic moments is welcomed for neutrons gyration creating afocusing defocusing molecular structure similar to particleaccelerators. The resonance between neutron spin turning and themagnetic orbital moment alternating is generating the turning force. Forpractical reasons a 90 deg. Gyration seems enough for most of theshielding purposes.

For nuclear reaction control purposes up to 180 deg. Gyration angleseems appropriate to keep the radiation in a specific location. Theapplication of the voltage over the piezo-structure or ferroelectricsenhanced structured by nano-engineered makes the switch of the channelsfrom turning around 806 to direct transfer 817 allowing the radiation topass through without attenuation. The control voltage 814 may be appliedin digital or analogical manner.

FIG. 9—shows a monolayer “miu” switch schematics with emphasis onoperation mode. The material is at the minimal approximationtri-layered. The intermediary layer 902 caring the switch function 905,915 is separated from the input layer 901 by a conductive interface 906applying the voltage between 901 and 902 relative to the backing layer903 grounded by the plot 914. The voltage applied on 902 by the plot 912induced a displacement in the structure 905, 915 such all the parallelchannels initially opened to gyration 909 are moving narrowing thegyration channel but opening the direct pass channel 910. Such as theradiation, gamma, neutron, X coming from 907 direction entering theadmittance resonant chamber 907 is voltage 906,912, 914 voltage switchedfrom complete gyration to 908 direction exiting on 904 exit chamber, tothe transmission channel 910 exiting on 911 direction forward. Thisrepresents the development of a voltage controlled variable albedoshielding reflector.

FIG. 10—shows the application of the voltage-controlled reflectors aembodiment of the present invention in the nuclear reactor control byvariable transmission “miu” switch shielding application. This is animportant stage of the invention as allows the drastic reduction of theshielding dimensions and mass.

The nuclear reactor structure 1008 operating in direct conversion modedelivering directly the electric power at the plots 1009, 1010 orthermal conductivity heat extraction for which the plots 1009 and 1010represents the cooling agent exit and input in the reactor criticalvolume. The criticality is controlled by the transmission of thenano-shielding such as to maintain the required power level. When thepower have to be increased the transmission through the shield 1000 isincreased. The released neutrons are used for the fuel breeding 1001 orfission products 1006 burning purposes. There are numerous plots tocontrol the sector shielding as 1011 for the outer layer, while 1012controls the top shielding. The escape neutrons are hitting theshielding 1000 in the point 1003 and dependent of the applied voltageapplied on 1011 they can reflect back in the reactor or be releasedinteracting with the breeding fuel being absorbed in the point 1005 orscattered hitting further the nuclear reactor external shield 1004reflecting back. Here they may be funneled placing them tangent tobreeding structure or being allowed on a radial path inside the nuclearreactor. In the upper side the escaped neutrons may cross through theshielding in the point 1014 depending on the voltage preset applied atplots 1012 and ent transmuting a fission product 1006 in the point 1013.The entire structure is introduced in an external case 1007 withmultiple functional roles.

This represents an important advancement as makes the nuclear poweraccessible on vehicles, few MWDay structures being possible of beingproduced in cubes of 2 feet lateral powering a car, house, residence forseveral years continuous driving.

FIG. 11—Shows another application, the use of a radiation funnelingshielding to shield plasma focused fission device being an embodiment ofthe present invention. Shows an application related to colider fusiondevice based on two opposite direction beams, for which the center ofmass of the colliding particles is in repose overlapping the center ofthe harvesting geometry.

The colider may be also achieved with a fixed perpendicular thin targetand a down flow harvesting structure. In the drawing the role of thenano-shield 1102 is to funnel the secondary radiation 1104 coming fromthe harvesting element 1103 such as to maximize its path in theabsorbing element 1105 until it hits the outer nano-shielding 1101 withreflects it back tangentially 1106. The fusion assembly 1100 may havethe fusion reactions of Boron 1108 proton 1107 giving a Helium particleand a 8Be that instantly decays 1109 in two Helium particles, or Lithium1111 deuteron 1112 or proton giving two Helium 1110 particles. TheHelium particles carrying the fusion energy as kinetic energy interactswith the direct conversion structure 1103 that takes their energy andtransforms it into electricity.

FIG. 12—shows another application as embodiment of the present inventionin the application of the nano-layered funneling shield as aspace-shuttle radiation-shielding device for charged particles and X,gamma rays. In this case the outer frame structure 1200 that protectsthe payload inside is shielded laterally by nano-foils 1201. This foilis funneling the radiation 1204 by controlled tunneling reflection 1203to the harvesting elements 1202. For charged particles 1205 specializedinertial spinning magnetic coils 1206 are driving the charged particlesto specialize or universal harvesting elements 1202. In this way acosmic ray protection similar to that of the earth may be achieved.

FIG. 13—shows another embodiment of the present invention that is amulti-focusing multi-layer device operating as gamma, X, n, chargedparticle imager. Various layers 1301 having narrow admittance angle andnarrow directive output create the material 1300. A radiation wavecoming from the direction 1392 is transmitted on the direction 1303towards a point in space 1304 where a detector is placed. The samehappens to radiation 1305, transmitted on the direction set 1306 towardsthe point 1307 with the appropriate detector. The radiation 1308 is alsotransmitted on the directions set 1309 towards the point 1310 with theappropriate detector. The radiations 1302, 1305 and 1308 may bedifferent and come under the same incidence angle, or may be the sameclass, and the detectors may be different. The selectivity choices aremultiple and are construction and materials type particularizations.

FIG. 14 shows the space-imaging device for terrestrial and outer spaceapplications. It is mainly a 2-3 PI imaging device, with angularselectivity. A plurality of such devices may generate a 3D image inspherical coordinates. The sensitive cylinder or prism 1400 contains amultitude of planar or bended layers as shown in FIG. 13 concentratingthe radiation to imaging points set on the hyper-surface 1401, equippedwith the appropriate transducers, with some symmetry and access shape1402. A ray 1404 is directed inside the set angles 1405 to a specificconcentrator/imaging point. The same happens with the ray 1406 poised onthe direction set 1407 towards the detector 1403. The shape, detectortypes, radiation selectivity criteria are buildup elements and may varyin a wide margin.

FIG. 15—shows how the adapted nano-tube wave-guide works as an examplefor the buildup of the molecular wave-guides. The material 1500 is madeof a plurality of layers from which the figure shows only three. Theadmittance-exit layer 1501, is followed by the channeling-innano-structure layer 1502, placed on a substrate layer 1503. A controlvoltage may be applied between the extreme layers or control layers 1501and 1503, having as effect the displacement of the atom 1507 thatinterferences with the admittance path, and resonator trapping device1506 made from a nano-cluster of various materials and variousgeometries. The incident radiation coming from the direction 1511 or1512 is trapped in the structure 1506 and injected in thenano-wave-guide 1508.

The radiation interacts slightly with the nuclei in the nano-tube thatare seen at the grazing angle, being driven with almost no energyexchange towards the exit device 1504. This device matches the radiationdetermining the direction 1517 and the cardioid's 1518 shape or exitangular distribution. The admittance cardioids 1510 are determined bythe input adapting structure 1506 that makes the oscillation inside thenano-cluster 1514 adapted to be injected 1515 in the molecular drive.

After channeling inside the structure 1505 the wave gets into the exitadapter 1504 having a matching 1516 oscillation before departure. It ispossible that passing through these structure the shape of the photonsto be modified as well the energy. The selectivity between the rays X,X′ and X″ is a constructive details. The structure is reversible if theinput and output matching structures are properly arranged.

FIG. 16 shows the complete shielding structure section 1600. This isachieved from a plurality of layers with various functions in radiation1607 propagating towards the shield 1608 denial or control. The firstlayer 1601 is design of harvesting the energy from low penetratingradiation like charged particles up to MeV domain and electromagneticfield with energy less than few eV delivering it at the electric plots1611. It also acts as a protection for the next layer depleting theradiation 1610 of its low penetration components and may be replaced byan anti-chemical protective layer.

The next layer 1602 is made of a plurality of layers containingnano-tubes or organized nano-clusters 1621, 1622 adjusted for variousparticles and various angles controlled by the voltage applied to theplots 1623. In this layer the radiation 1610 is back-reflected 1624 bygyrating inside the molecular wave-guides leaving a small amount ofbeing transmitted 1625.

The layer 1603 has mainly separation and resistance functions. The layer1604 is based on atomic absorption enhanced by nuclear resonancecascade. The absorptive layers 1641, 1642 have various nano-micro layersof various isotopic enriched materials eliminating resonant bands fromthe gamma, n radiation spectrum. The layer 1606 is the last resort ofprotection being based on mass absorption in degradation lattice, beingmainly a usual shielding. The remnant radiation 1660 is supposed to bevery low, with orders of magnitude. The dashed line 1605 is a symmetryline for the case when the shielding arrangement is bi-directional. Thesymmetry line may be also build on the 1603 layer for nuclear radiationcontrol applications.

FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of the invention related to the atomiclevel radiation channeling through an atomic structure presented in awindow 1700. The picture shows several atoms 1701 connected throughchemical bounds at the 2p 1714 orbital level—like Carbon—but that is notan issue, is just for simplicity of the example. The lattice, a cluster,nano-tube has a cell dimension. The electric potential curve 1702 startsat the nucleus 1701 where it has a high value decreasing fast with thedistance, and being partially shielded by the electrons placed on atomicorbital 1s, and 2s 1721, 2p 1711 and 2p-bound 1714.

The atomic channel given by the atoms alignment 1704 is bended left by agap 1705 determining the radius of curvature of the structure by usingthe

equation:

$\alpha = {\frac{\Delta \; y}{A} = { \frac{A}{R}\Rightarrow R  = {\frac{A^{2}}{\Delta \; y}->2}}}$

If keeping a smaller than 2 degrees for an interatomic distance of 3Angstroms=A, (sp² bound in CNT is 1.41 A) we get a radius R=20 nm. Ofcourse this looks very small but is the lower limit a molecularwave-guide effect may occur. In reality the radiation wave 1703 has afinite length of several [nm] up to hundreds of [nm], depending on theproduction source, with a E;B profile wearing the signature of theprimary source and the environment it passed through. In our example ithas also a width and an envelope 1732 with the Poynting vector Y 1731centered in the channel. The image resembles a ship in a strait. Innormal environments between 250 and 400 Kelvin degrees the atoms havemolecular vibrations at THz frequencies. Thou the atoms have not fixedlocations as figured by the alignment axes 1704 but likelihood placesfigured by the rectangles 1706 where in plain they describe a combinedoscillatory movement similar to Lisajoux trajectories, under the actionof the figured in plane oscillations 1717 on z axis, 1718 on y axes and1712 on xz. In reality these movements have to be treated in volume anda plurality of specific eigen-frequency in THz domain, specific to allmolecular vibrations. These movements may make the wave-guideimpractical above a certain temperature, because the atoms may interposewith the wave driving to a nuclear collision effect known under the nameof Doppler broadening.

This effect generates Compton recoil electrons 1708 that stops far inthe lattice by generating a cascade 1709 accompanied by X rays andenergy and direction modification going astray.

This imposes the following requirements:

-   -   The nanowire to be pretty straight and long free of sudden        curls, while the gap on the rotational axis to be a rational        number so during a twist around its symmetry axis the molecules        to cover all the space.    -   The nano-structure has to be as compact as possible and with        high Z number so the fields constrain to be big enough to bend        the radiation wavelet and keep on the channel.    -   There is possible to vary the isotope in such a manner to create        a funnel and control the exit from the channel.    -   The chemical stability and the molecular strength have to be        high so that the amplitude of the molecular vibration to be        small enough to require no cryogenics.

The development of organized structures have also to have a high fillfactor, that possible may not be higher than 10% so a 20 layersstructure might be necessary.

FIG. 18—shows another embodiment according to the invention saidradiation selective extractor/gyrator 1800.

A beam 1802 of composed radiation reaching the target 1801 comes, and isseparated on types and extracted from the hot area by specializedguiding tubes 1804, 1808, driving it to receivers.

The radiation may be a mixture of n, gamma becoming p, e, and gamma fortravel times greater than ½ hour due to n disintegration. The n emittermodulation carries a fake signal while gamma caries the true signal.Their overlap on target makes the decoding hard due to physicalproperties of the signal that have to be extracted from the high-energyradiation background.

This kind of communicator is also usable in high radiation environmentwhere the noise 1805 distinctly extracted may be separated from the realinformation-carrying signal 1807. The system is transparent to theradiation not matching the extraction conditions 1806.

The nano-structured entry interface 1801 takes inside all the radiationthat is focused 1803 to the input filters of the specialized extractionguides. This device may use the signal decoders for imaging andcommunication purposes. The radiation modulation might be done with theelectro-sensitive radiation transport device shown in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 19 as a whole body protective coat 1900, formed by the upperbody coat 1907 and pans 1908 with protective shoes or boots 1909.

The coat 1901, 1907 may include helmet or hood 1903 and a backpack 1902for survival and instrumentation. The face protection may have a faceprotection shield 1904 that may be transparent for eyes or completelyopaque equipped with complex orientation system 1905, giving the imagesof the terrain in various bands and radiation. The gloves 1906 may havevarious degrees of flexibility and protection. The advantage of thissuit is that it may exhibit attenuation coefficients up to ppm level andweight by 100 times lower than it would be fabricated by the massattenuation materials.

Some flexibility degree will be possible in the suit. The suit may beused in various configurations and circumstances for individualprotection as military suit, security first intervention, hazmatenvironments, outer space for astronaut suit or for outposts shielding,for shelter in place, portable emergency vehicles, etc.

FIG. 20 shows an accomplishment of these active shields 2000 inlightening and miniaturizing the nuclear power sources as fission,fusion and hybrids. The entire assembly is contained into a technologiccase that has mechanical resistance purposes and shielding purposes aselectric, radiation, etc, containing pressure and temperature. The totalreflection external shield 2002 is reflecting all the particles comingfrom the hot area towards inside, keeping the radiation together I asmaller confinement zone. Immediately near the absorber is placed amultipurpose cooled absorber material making a sealed structure able toconfine pressure and temperature, up to a limit where it has acontrolled release. A direct conversion layer and gamma absorbermaterial form the absorber. It also exhibits chemical stabilizationmaterials. The breeding control adjustable reflection shield 2004 isdriving the neutrons to the absorption layer mainly having the functionof breeding and transmutation, when it is electrically polarized andtransparent to the total reflection, reflecting them inside for powerproduction. Breeding nano-material 2005 contains ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, or maycontain other materials for transmutation and radioisotopes production.To keep a constant reactivity in this area the transmutation productswill be removed from the production area in a storage coolingcompartment. Power control adjustable reflection shield 2006 is madeform the active material, whose transmittance and reflection also calledalbedo is done by using a control system for criticality 2007, thattogether with the Breeding control system 2008 assure the neutron 2009flux management establishing their trajectories 2010 and range. All thefunctions are automatically controlled in order to balance the poweroutput 2011 produced with the power demand of the system this part isintegrated.

FIG. 21 represents an example of mobile portable nuclear power source2101, based on reflective Nano-Shielding 2102 that may drive tosuper-critical nuclear sources, as an example 239 Pu based reactorreaching the criticality with less than 50 g of fissile material. Theproduced power is transmitted to wheels electric motors 2103 making partof the integrated vehicle system 2100.

Other examples as trains, ships, planes, super-planes space shuttles andunderwater devices are also possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF INVENTION

The invention refers to a new type of active nano-structured material tobe used for X, gamma and neutrons shielding and control. The main ideabehind the patent comes from the actual super-mirror used insynchrotrons X ray focusing and cold neutron transport at spallationsources. The other idea used in the patent approach was the fact thatthe interaction between high-energy radiation and materials is very weakexcept for nuclear resonances. Such resonant materials may have smallthickness but they may generate high absorption rates.

The equation 1 is characterizing the process:

I(E _(j))=I ₀(E _(j))exp(μ_(i) x ^(i)+δ_(j) ^(i)μ^(j) x ^(j))  Eq.1

where I is the intensity in a point x on the axis for an energybelonging to the energy group j.

The group width is set to be equal with the resonance's effective width(something like nσ where n is a reasonable value usually smaller than3). μ is the liniar absorption coefficient absorbing the value

$\frac{\mu}{\rho}\rho_{i}$

where μ is the material specific absorption density while ρ is thematerial mass density and ρ_(i) is the specific material densityspanning the length x_(i).

Using this concept there is possible to make arrangements of variousmaterials resonantly absorbing the incident radiation, activating theinternal nuclear channel and dezexciting by following the nuclearbranching paths. There are very few cases when the excited nucleus isemitting a higher energy than it absorbed, therefore the new materialbecomes a new source of radiation in that bandwidth backscatteringtheoretically 50% of the primary radiation. If consider two repetitivelayers separated by a distance they theoretically cut down 75% of theradiation by backscattering. The disadvantage of these materials is thatthe resonance band is very narrow, so a sandwich is required to cut downmost of the energetic groups, but the nature did not provided so manystable isotopes as we may need to make resonant shielding. Radiationbuildup is also important but is considered a secondary effect for thisapproach.

The usage of the first concept about radiation reflection at grazingangles together with the fact that the radiation interaction with thesurface is local at few tens of atoms driven the conclusion that anano-tube slightly bending, see FIG. 17 may offer the same conditions,and more it may contain the radiation and slightly center in the tubehole. The nano wires are naturally bending and so the radiation. One ofthe problems to be solved is the small admittance for the radiationinside the molecular wave-guides that is solved by growing fulerene likestructures that will divert the radiation inside sa described in FIG.15.

FIG. 1 describes the 3 types of shielding, from which the patent bringsas new the nuclear resonance enhanced absorption and the molecularwave-guides radiation gyration.

If the resonance enhanced radiation absorption and reemission describedby FIG. 3 may brining a passive shield with maximum 1-2 orders ofmagnitude thinner than the classical mass absorption actual shieldingdescribed generically in FIG. 2, the radiation gyration by molecularwave-guides described by FIG. 4 opens new perspectives.

As FIG. 5 shows there is necessary to build organized nano-structures,that to create the so-called molecular structures. These structures maybe build in many ways, but for simplicity one way to build is bystarting from a Si, Diamond substrate, building by beam-annealed Au selforganized nano-clusters, and building a layer of carbon nano-tubes,slowly bended in about 500 nm to 1 micron. Over this layer a newconductive micro layer is deposited as TiO and W, or WC follows bypulsed laser deposition than by Au, Ag deposition. This substrate willcreate the germination for the new set of C nano-tubes deposited by CVD,slightly tilted than the first.

By this way a plurality of substrates may be build. Another modality ofbuilding the organized structure is to perform a combined CVD and LaserPulsed Deposition, assisted by an interfered ion bean on a 10 nm patternto create the thermal spikes to induce the nucleation of thenano-clusters and separation of the depositions. In this structure theorganized layers of nano-clusters will float in an insertion materialalso partially crystallized. The insertion of a piezo material as BaTiO4by LPD or a ferro-electric material as TGS brings the possibility of theelectric control of the radiation direction by obtaining the molecularwave-guide switches.

As already resulted from FIG. 5 and in the molecular switch versionpresented in FIG. 8 there is difficult to achieve this effect by usingfew atoms. A collective action with the participation of few thousandsatoms is needed to completely gyrate MeV n or gamma rays as detailed inFIG. 17.

In the case og the gyration by 180° of the radiation of few MeV on 1000atoms, an energy exchange of several tens of eV will be transferred tolattice due to impulse transfer. This is enough to warm-up that channeland the structure to require cooling.

The main formula is:

$\begin{matrix}{p = {{2\frac{E}{c}} = {{{nMv}->v} = { \frac{2E}{cnM}\Rightarrow{\Delta \; E}  = {\frac{2E^{2}}{c^{2}{nM}} = {{nk}_{B}T}}}}}} & (3)\end{matrix}$

that in the case of 1 MeV radiation turned by 1000 atoms gives about 2.5eV that drives to a 3° K temperature increase per particle.

This is not so bad showing that high doses may be handled by thismechanism without significant radiation damage effects. To calculate theradiation damage the isotopic specific interaction cross-sections haveto be considered. Without doing this we observe that in the radiationadmission interface small cross-section materials have to be used tochannel the radiation. The particularity of the channeling processexploited in the present invention consists in the fact that theradiation quanta interacts mainly with the collective atomic electricfield and not directly with the nuclei, making the interactions small.

The application of the material in communication in FIG. 18 uses theselectivity and electric control that makes possible the modulation asemitter and the direct conversion systems with fast response detectionand demodulation. The high sensitivity makes possible the data andsignal transmission through shielding materials and high absorbers.

The usage of these materials inside nuclear reactors is making possiblethe replacement of the mechanical control rods by electric controlledalbedo materials, increasing the n usage and making an optimalmanagement of breeding, transmutation and partitioning. The waste andcontamination will be drastically removed The drastically change in thenuclear reactor structure. Same structure might be used to fusionstructures, accelerator driven structures and hybrid structures.

1. A radiation guiding material according to the main embodiment madeof: a plurality of layers containing nanostructures, said nano-channels,pores, clusters, nano-tubes and nanowires and a combination of thesewith the role to trap and guid the nuclear radiation a plurality ofconductive and insulator layers coat or insert with piezo or ferroelectro magnetic properties with the capability of changing the guidednuclear radiation channeling direction a plurality of layers having theabsorption increased by the presence of nuclear resonance in the energydomain of interest placed in a predefined order a plurality of layers,fabrics and inserts with the purpose of increasing mechanical, chemicaland heat and other radiation resistance
 2. A radiation guiding materialaccording to claim 1 made by a nano-structure that traps radiation andis steering it inside, driving it in a controlled direction.
 3. Aradiation guiding material according to claim 1 said nuclear reflectivelayer made from a plurality of molecules forming nano-cluster structuresconnected in a predetermined order forming an internal charged spacesimilar to a wave-guide able to channel and guide the high frequencyelectromagnetic field, neutral waves and charged particles along thechannel gyrating it in a controlled manner.
 4. A radiation guidingmaterial according to claim 1 made by a symmetrical atomic structure,offering a hollow cavity able to trap and resonate with the incidentwaves increasing the incidence admittance angle.
 5. A radiation guidingmaterial according to claim 1 comprising an assembly of molecularwave-guide channels, grabbing the radiation from a large incidenceangles and sending it in a controlled angle.
 6. A radiation guidingmaterial according to claim 1 said a material sheet offering channelingproperties for a preferred direction and normal attenuation propertiesfor all other incidence angles.
 7. A radiation guiding materialaccording to claim 1, used to create human radiation shielding similarto raincoats.
 8. A radiation guiding material according to claim 1, madeof a plurality of layers used to shield a glove-box or hot-cell orindividual radiation protective raincoat shielding for HAZMAT or spacesuits.
 9. A radiation guiding material according to claim 1 comprising astructure bordered by electro sensitive layers able to change its shapeaccording to an applied voltage said control to its extremities offeringthe traveling wave alternate exit possibilities depending on the controlvoltage
 10. A radiation guiding material according to claim 1 made of anassembly of molecular wave-guide channels that grabs the radiation froma large incidence angles and is sending it in a controlled angle toconcentrate or focus it for energy harvesting, propulsion, activeinterrogation or medical applications.
 11. A radiation guiding materialaccording to claim 1 made of an assembly of nano-channeled structuredriving the radiation in different directions switched by a controlvoltage
 12. A radiation guiding material according to claim 1 made of anassembly of neutrons channeling device made by sectors withtransmission/reflection controlled by voltage surrounding a nuclearreactor structure and adjusting the criticality
 13. A radiation guidingmaterial according to claim 1, made of an assembly of directivestructures, used to funnel the radiation from a narrow admittance angletowards a single point called focal point used for imaging.
 14. Aradiation guiding material according to claim 1, fabricated as amaterial sheet, offering channeling properties for a preferred directionand normal attenuation properties for all other incidence angles.
 15. Aradiation guiding material according to claim 1 used in a combination aspanel elements a to create a multi-layer conic gamma, n imaging device.16. A radiation guiding material according to claim 9 said controlledshielding panel applied in to control the flux and energy harvesting infission, fusion and mixed reactors, as in energy generation by nuclearmeans as annihilation.
 17. A controlled radiation guiding materialaccording to claim 9 made as a multi-nanostructured-layer device used incommunication by X and gamma, particle ray modulation demodulationcommunication, imaging and probing systems.
 18. A radiation guidingmaterial according to claim 9 mounted to form a combined structure ofradiation funneling and nano-focusing for atomic microscopy andquantum-devices manufacturing.
 19. A radiation guiding materialaccording to claim 1 mounted in a repetitive microstructure to be usedfor space shielding, of space shuttles, outposts, nuclear powergenerators on board
 20. A controlled radiation guiding materialaccording to claim 9 mounted in a combination of active passivestructures used to replace the nuclear reactors criticality controlmechanical rods and to make the neutron management is ultra-smallportable nuclear reactors on terrestrial vehicles.